Balloon Festival

Hi All,

I am thinking about heading up to the Lake George area (from Long Island) to check out the Adirondack Balloon Festival in late September. I would like to stay someplace very clean and in a nice setting (doesn%26#39;t have to be right on the lake, but should be away from highways and congestion). I stayed at Canoe Island lodge about 25 years ago and I remember it being kind of rustic. I would like to stay someplace a bit fancier this time. Also, is September a good time to visit? Are the crowds thinned out a bit by that time of year? Thanks...

Balloon Festival

I love september here! The balloon festival is really great you%26#39;ll love it. It%26#39;s cold here by then so plan on brining jackets and blankets. Go to the airport (I%26#39;ll give you directions if u can%26#39;t find them) early in the a.m, you get an incredible breakfast and the morning balloons are the best. The lake is much quieter by then, though we get people from all over for the balloon festival so everything will be open. We have a moonlight balloon festival with about half a dozen balloons in the park on Beach Rd across from the lake where the Steamboats are. Its really something to see them all lit up after dark, bring a camera! Places to stay varies by a few things: Travelling with kids? Do you need a kitchenette? How much do u want to spend? For a little nicer away from congestion, I would recommend Glens Falls,a place named Queensbury Hotel, its just south of Lake George and not far from the airport where the festival has most of the balloons. It%26#39;s very clean, just lovely and the food is great. 2 room suites with kitchenette are $139/night, they have an elevator, indoor pool with jacuzzi or whirlpool whatever it is, you can see pics at queensburyhotel.com. Good location across from a library and small park with a gazebo, some small town shops, restaurants, a movie theatre where you can eat dinner while you watch the movie called Aimie%26#39;s dinner and movie. Easy to get to the airport just drive right up Ridge Street (runs along side this hotel) and take 1 right hand turn onto the airport rd. If you want to stay in Lake George itself, beware they are busy balloon festival weekend, I would recommend Howard Johnson%26#39;s tiki resort. look up ';hojo lake george'; you%26#39;ll get the website. They have a cute polynesian show, elvis and comedy shows, a new chef thats supposed to be a dangerous weapon, jacuzzi suites, and other suites, even there basic room was decent and clean. You are just up the hill from the lake, but far enough away from the tourist strip for it to be quiet. Check out Lake George ovewview pages, I wrote about 12 of them I think, there is plenty there about food, things to do and accomodations. If you come in September, look into Hick%26#39;s Orchard in Hartford, Ny..Rachel Ray (food network) went there on her show, she%26#39;s a local to Lake George you know.. we local adore this place for the apple cider donuts that melt in your mouth, apple picking and apple barn where you don%26#39;t have to pick them, corn maze etc. It%26#39;s maybe 30 mins from here but so worth the trip if you want to see amazing foliage and a peaceful countryside. It%26#39;s just on the border of Vt, and its so green and lovely you%26#39;ll fall in love.. and find peace and quiet. Let me know if you have any more questions, enjoy September here!

Balloon Festival

Thank you LGP - all the info is really helpful. We don%26#39;t have any kids yet, and wouldn%26#39;t need a kitchenette. But I looked at the Queensbury site and it seems like a nice hotel. Thanks for the tip on Hick%26#39;s orchard, too - that seems like a place I%26#39;d really enjoy (although my fiancee is somewhat less outdoorsy). We will likely take your advice and stay at the Queensbury but I was also wondering if you know of any hotels that are a bit more modern in terms of decor. We%26#39;re not looking for Manhattan%26#39;s upper west side in upstate NY, but we both like hotels that have a modern or art deco feel, even if we are visiting someplace as picturesque and serene as Lake George. If such a place exists, we%26#39;d be interested, but otherwise the Queensbury and some of the other hotels in the Glens Falls area look just fine. I%26#39;m looking forward to the balloon festival in particular, but the whole trip will be a surprise for my fiancee. Can%26#39;t wait to drive up there!

Thanks again for the reply.

Oh what a sweet surprise for your fiance! Queensbury Hotel is one of the nicer hotels as far as looks go, but you can also try Courtyard by Marriott @ Saratoga Springs 11 Excelsior Avenue

Saratoga Springs , NY 12866 Phone (518) 226-0538

866-4-COURTYD this new hotel is lovely, new, and really impressive. You will be in Saratoga Springs which has won awards for cleanliness and beauty. Impressive shopping, many boutique type stores, and of course the infamous race track, great for us engaged love birds (I%26#39;m newly engaged to, I love it there) Perfect parks for picnics or just sitting, art galleries, etc. It%26#39;s only 15 mins south of L.G, just at exit 15 I-87. Also, the Mohican Motel is very nice. It%26#39;s right on Route 9, south of main street of Lake George (also known as Canada Street or route 9) and just north of a very nice shopping mile featuring Ralph Lauren, Tommy, Gap, Harry %26amp; David, Rue 21, Hush puppie, Fabulous kitchen stores, etc. I wrote all that detail under shopping overview page for Lake George. Mohican Hotel is on the main rd, but at a quiet part of it, other than taking a left out of the drive anyway. They have jacuzzi, pool, kitchenettes, great for families or romantic getaways. Also just up from route 149 that will take you to the apple orchard and the Balloon festival, so it%26#39;s good location. The Mohican Resort Motel

1545 State Route 9

Lake George, NY 12845-3438 Good luck, let me know how it goes, or if you need any more help!

Hi LGP-

Thanks for all the information - everything you said was 100% accurate, and very helpful!! We stayed at the courtyard by marriott in Saratoga Springs and had a wonderful time. The Saturday of the balloon festival it rained quite a bit, so we drove all the way up to Ticonderoga, then took the ferry across Lake Champlain to Vermont. By the time we got back to Glens Falls, the wind and rain had stopped, and we got a spectacular view of the evening balloon launch. I%26#39;d say it was the most perfect weekend getaway we%26#39;ve ever had - now we want to move to Saratoga Springs!!!

Thanks again for your advice!